Spinning-top.



No. 780,108. PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905. H. KONERMAN.

SPINNING TOP.

JQPLIOATIOH rum) NOV. 2a, was.

wa w? QM%7M4 Patented January 1'7, 1905.

ATNT Orricn.

TO JOHN T. SARGENT,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SPIN NING TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,108, dated January 17, 1905.

Application filed November 23, 1903. Serial No. 182,333.

To (tZZ w/tmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, H nNnY KoNnRMAN,a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Newport, in the county of Campbell and 5 State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops,

of which the following is a specification.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a spinning-top, such as is caused ID to spin by a cord wound around it in the usual manner, with a device whereby a percussion cap or wafer may be discharged by the impact of the top with the ground or like surface when the top is thrown down and spun.

The several features of my invention and the Various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

I will now proceed to describe my invention in detail.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this application, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a top embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical central section taken in the plane of the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents in perspective three of the parts used in conjunction and located at the lower portion of the top.

The spinning-top A is of the usual outer 3 conformation. The precise shape is not a material part of my invention. At the lower end of the top I provide a case or shell B, containing a chamber O. The outer side of this case B conforms to the proper shape of the top here. In the lower end of this chamber is located the pin D, whose outer end is pointed, as usual. This pin 1) not far above the point is provided with the customary annular groove D to receive the portion of the string or cord, which is for a part of its length wound around the top and the free end portion held in the hand of the one who is to spin the top.

The upper end of the pin D is sufficiently large to constitute a proper anvil, whereby the cap or percussion-wafer may be discharged when the upper portion 'of the top is driven or forced toward the pin as the top when thrown down strikes the ground. or other surface. When the percussionwafer is supported at the upper end of the pin and by the pin, as I prefer that it shall be, then this upper end of the pin is preferably somewhat enlarged. For this reason in the drawings the upper end of the pin D carries the enlargement or table D The wood or other material of the top, which is located above the pin, may be used as the hannner to explode the wafer on the pin; but, among other reasons, for the sake of durability when the top is of wood I prefer to employ a metal plate as the hammer. Directly above this upper end of the pin, but leaving a space between amply suflicient for the ready introduction of a percussion-wafer, is a metal piece E, which constitutes what may be termed the hammer.

In practice the percussion-wafer V is located between the top of the pin D, which may be termed the anvil, and the hammer E.

When the top in the act of spinning is thrown down, the hammer E advances with great force and explodes the wafer W.

For the escape of the gas generated by the explosive NV, I provide suitable openings O through the sides of the C()H1l.)21.l'l}l1161]l3 B. One of these openings, O", is made longer to admit of the introduction of the pcrcussion-wafer to the space between the pin D and the hammer E. To the better retainthe wafer in this position. I provide an adjustable detent, which preferably consists of the rod or stud II, adapted to rest upon the bottom O of the opening O. It is kept there by a spring II until lifted by the operator to insert a percussionwafer through opening O into the chamber O, as aforc specified. As soon as the wafer is between the pin and the anvil the operator releases his hold of the pin, and itresumes its place against the bottom of opening O and then securely keeps the wafer in place within the chamber O. The upper end of the stud H is in a cavity K, and above this stud and in the same cavity is the spring H As the stud is lifted the spring is compressed, and vice versa. This stud is easily lifted by a fingernail. The bottom O" is beveled to enable the detent to be more easily manipulated.

The compartment C can be united to the main portion of the top in the following convenient way: The hammer E is extended laterally and has notches E, into each of which is received a stud B These studs at top may be riveted to the hammer-plate. The latter will thus form the roof of the chamber C and of the openings 0 C and G.

The hammer-plate E is provided with a central stud E which is driven up into the central portion of the main body and serves to hold the hammer-plate and the chamber B and the pin D andstud H to place. hen the plate E is thus extended, an opening 1 1* is to be present in it to admit of the stud I-I being in position.

The operation has been so fully specified that no further description thereof is necessary, except to say that ordinarily the fragments of the percussion-wafer will by the force of the explosion be projected from the chamber C through the openings C C C, and nothing will remain to be removed; but in case any remnant of the explosive cap or wafer remain therein it can be removed by lifting the stud H and shaking the remnant out through the opening O".

This plaything affords an opportunity for much harmless amusement and serves to take the place of those harmful toy pistols that ex plode such percussion caps and wafers. These pistols are, as is well known, conducive to lockjaw.

My'invention also adds zest to that game of tops where a number of tops are bunched together and when a top is thrown down and spun in the mid st of them. W here the top thus thrown down is provided With my invention, the explosion of the wafer in it operates to blow the other tops away from the center or center ring, and thus adds Zest to the game; but the principal advantage of my invention is that it makes a loud report that greatly contributes to the amusement of those using tops, as well as those bystanders interested in the sport.

A great many variations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from my invention, and I do not confine myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to makesuch changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Where the detent is necessary, it may be made heavy enough when the top is upright to drop into place without the aid of a spring; but the latter is obviously preferable, as it will act when the top is in any position.

\Vhat I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a playing-top, a movable pin, which serves as the lower top point, a hammer at rear of this pin, said pin adapted to receive the impact of said hammer, a chamber for receiving the percussion-wafer and an adjustable detent for keeping the wafer in position between the pin and the hammer, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a playing-top, a movable pin, which is the lower top point, a hammer adapted to strike this pin, and a detent to retain the percussion-wafer in place between the pin and the hammer, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. In a playing-top, a walled chamber B, a reciprocatory pin D, movable back and forth in and through the bottom thereof, a hammerplate, and lugs adapted to connect the hammer-plate and this chamber, the chamber having openings to Vent the discharge of gas, and an opening to admit the percussion-wafer, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

&. In a playing-top, an inclosed chamber B, a reciprocatory pin D, movable back and forth in and through the bottom thereof, a hammerplate, and lugs adapted to connect the hammer-plate and this chamber, the chamber having opening to admit the percussion-wafer, and to vent the discharge of gas, and a movable detent, to close the opening for the percussion-wafer, and means for causing this cletent to close this opening, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a playing-top, provided with a chamber-piece B, a reciprocatory pin D, movable back and forth in and through the bottom thereof, a hammer-plate, and lugs adapted to connect the hammer-plate and this chamber, the chamber having opening to admit the percussion-wafer, and to vent the discharge of gas, and a movable detent, to close the opening for the percussion-wafer, and a spring in connection with the said detent adapted to elastically push the detent forward and make it close this opening, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a playing-top, having achamber-piece B, a reciprocatory pin D, movable back and forth in and through the bottom thereof, a hammer-plate, and lugs adapted to connect the hammer-plate and this chamber, the chamber having opening to admit the percussionwafer, and to vent the discharge of gas, and a movable detent, to close the opening for the percussion-wafer, and a spring in connection with the said detent adapted to elastically push the detent forward and make it close this opening, the body of the top having a recess adapted to receive this spring and the upper end of this detent, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a playing-top, a walled chamber, a reciprocatory pin, a hammer for forcing the pin to explode the percussion-wafer, the top hav ing an opening to admit the percussion-wafer to be located in position to be thus exploded,

IIO

a detent adapted to automatically close the said opening, and to rest upon the lower edge of said opening, the said lower edge of said opening being beveled, so as to allow of the detent being more readily manipulated, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a playing-top, a walled chamber, a re ciprocatory pin, a hammer for forcing the pin to explode the percussionwvafer, the chamber having an opening to admit the wafer, a ham mer connected to the chamber, the hammer provided with a stud, engaging the top and adapted to hold the hammer and the chamber in shape, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. In a playing-top, a walled chamber, a re- 

